Technical Abstract:
Pedotransfer functions allow estimation of sometimes complex soil characteristics or prediction model parameters based upon a much simpler set of basic soil property measurements. Some of the most practical applications of soil pedotransfer functions are in the realm of runoff and soil erosion prediction equations or models, for use by field conservationists and environmental planners in estimating sediment losses from farm fields, rangelands, forest harvest regions, and other land uses. To these end users, it is important to have sound technology that provides reasonable representation across the wide range of soils across the United States (or their country or region of interest) that soil erosion by water may occur on. This book chapter discusses some historical soil pedotransfer functions for erosion prediction, some pedotransfer functions for modern erosion models, and procedures to develop infiltration and erodibility parameters for these types of models.